“Then the faults or the misbehaviour of some gave occasion for the distinction of others, and perhaps were the cause of material losses; and you cannot write a true history of a battle without including the faults and misbehaviour of part at least of those engaged. “Believe me that every man you see in a military uniform is not a hero; and that, although in the account given of a general action, such as that of Waterloo, many instances of individual heroism must be passed over unrelated, it is better for the general interests to leave those parts of the story untold, than to tell the whole truth. “If, however, you should still think it right to turn your attention to this subject, I am most ready to give you every assistance and information in my power. “Believe me, etc. “WELLINGTON.” (_Gurwood_, vol. XII, page 590.) _To the same._ “PARIS, August 17th, 1815. “MY DEAR SIR, “I have received your letter of the 11th, and I regret much that I have not been able to prevail upon you to relinquish your plan. “You may depend upon it, you will never make it a satisfactory work. “I will get you the list of the French army, generals, etc. “Just to show you how little reliance can be placed, even on what are supposed the best accounts of a battle, I mention that there are some circumstances mentioned in general Müffling’s account which did not occur as he relates them. “He was not on the field during the whole battle, particularly not during the latter part of it. “The battle began, I believe, at eleven. “It is impossible so say when each important occurrence took place, nor in what order. We were attacked first with infantry only; then, with cavalry only; lastly, and principally, with cavalry and infantry mixed. “No houses were possessed by the enemy in Mont-St.-Jean, excepting the farm in front of the left of our centre[108], on the road to Genappe, can be called one. This they got, I think, at about two o’clock, and got it from a circumstance which is to be attributed to the neglect of the officer commanding on the spot. “The French cavalry were on the plateau in the centre between the two high-roads for nearly three quarters of an hour, riding about among our squares of infantry, all firing having ceased on both sides. I moved our squares forward to the guns; and our cavalry, which had been detached by lord Uxbridge to the flanks, was brought back to the centre. The French cavalry were then driven off. After that circumstance, repeated attacks were made along the whole front of the centre of the position, by cavalry and infantry, till seven at night. How many I cannot tell.